Solid-pictorial video signal generating apparatus, solid-pictorial video signal transmitting apparatus, solid-pictorial video signal receiving apparatus and solid-pictorial video signal transmission switching apparatus

ABSTRACT

Left and right video cameras  18 L and  18 R are disposed on both sides of a front video camera  18 M. Solid-pictorial video signals used upon signal transmission are generated by using video signals outputted from the left and right video cameras with respect to a video signal outputted from the front video camera. The left and right video cameras make use of simplified video cameras and are cameras with no zoom functions or the like. The video signals obtained from the left and right video cameras are used as signals for forming a solid picture. In the present example, only solid information with respect to a main picture is transmitted as a video signal to reduce the amount of transmission. Since a motion-compensated DCT encode process using the front video signal as a reference picture is performed to extract only the video signal having the solid information from the left and right video signals. Since the simplified video cameras can be utilized, solid-pictorial video signals can be generated at low cost.

This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/296,366,filed Apr. 22, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,441,844 which is a continuationof International Application PCT/JP98/03766 having an Internationalfiling date of Aug. 25, 1998.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a solid-pictorial video signal generatingapparatus wherein three television cameras placed close to each otherare used, a picture obtained from the central video camera is used as amain picture and the remaining pictures obtained from the other camerasare respectively pictures used for generation of a solid picture,whereby solid-pictorial video signals can be generated in a simpleconfiguration. This invention also relates to a solid-pictorial videosignal transmitting apparatus and a solid-pictorial video signalreceiving apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving thesolid-pictorial video signals, and a solid-pictorial video signaltransmission switching apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

The projection of a solid picture onto the screen is normallyimplemented by processing images or pictures obtained from a pluralityof video cameras (television cameras). As shown in FIG. 15 by way ofexample, the same object 12 is simultaneously imaged or photographed bytwo video cameras 14 and 16 installed within a studio while their cameraangles are being changed. Two image or picture signals obtained by theirimaging are supplied to a solid-pictorial video signal generating part20 wherein they are subjected to suitable signal processing, therebyobtaining a solid picture. In this case, ones identical in standards toeach other are used as the two video cameras 14 and 16 to be used.

On the other hand, when the same object 12 is simultaneously imaged bythe two video cameras 14 and 16 to generate the solid picture in thisway, it is necessary to prepare two video cameras 14 and 16 identical inperformance and characteristic to each other. Thus, when one attempts tovary the amount of zoom by the cameras each provided with a zoomfunction, it is necessary to control zooming of the two video cameras 14and 16 in interlock with each other and control both to the same amountof zoom. In other words, controlled amounts of the two must completelybe matched with each other.

If not done so, then the amounts of solid information about videosignals obtained from the respective video cameras lack uniformity andan accurate solid picture cannot be generated. Of course, theapproximately complete identity is required for all the functionsmounted to the video cameras, including color characteristics of boththe video cameras 14 and 16.

Thus, when one identical to an ordinary studio camera (in-stationcamera) is used as a video camera for a solid picture, adjustments tocoincidences of camera various characteristics of the two become socumbersome in terms of the coincidences of their characteristics. Theirmaintenance is so hard. Further, when two video cameras are used, therelationship in which one is used as a master and the other is used as aslave, is not established. Thus, a video signal obtained from the othervideo camera cannot be used as an auxiliary video signal. Therefore, theentire apparatus inevitably increases in cost because a simplifiedcamera with no zoom function or the like cannot be substituted for theother video camera.

Further, when the solid picture is stopped so as to be switched to anordinary image or picture (plane picture), one hesitates as to whichtelevision camera should take priority over the other. This is becauseone and the other cannot be recognized as a main picture and a slavepicture respectively since camera angles are divided into the left andright with respect to an object.

Even when it is desired to create a solid picture having special effectssuch as screen switching, wipe (sweep), etc., its working is so hardwhere the same object is imaged from such uniform angles.

Therefore, the present invention solves such conventional problems andproposes a solid-pictorial video signal generating apparatus and thelike, which provide low costs and easy solid form and provide therelationship of master and slave.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A solid-pictorial video signal generating apparatus according to thepresent invention is constructed such that left and right video camerasare placed on both sides of a front video camera, and solid-pictorialvideo signal used upon signal transmission is generated by using videosignals outputted from the left and right video cameras with respect toa video signal outputted from the front video camera.

A solid-pictorial video signal transmitting apparatus according to thepresent invention comprises a front video camera, a pair of left andright video cameras placed with the front video camera interposedtherebetween, a first encoder unit for processing a front video signaloutputted from the front video camera, second and third encoder unitsfor respectively effecting a compressing process on left and right videosignals outputted from the pair of left and right video cameras whilereferring to the front video signal thereby to generate solid-pictorialvideo signals, a transport stream converter for converting the outputsof the respective encoder units to transport stream signals, amultiplexing unit for multiplexing the transport streams signals, and asignal transmitting unit for transmitting a multiplexed solid-pictorialvideo signal.

A solid-pictorial video signal receiving apparatus according to thepresent invention, for receiving a solid-pictorial video signalcomprised of a front video signal and first and second solid-pictorialvideo signals each having a difference between each of left and rightvideo signals and the front video signal, is constructed such that aleft-pictorial video signal is generated from the front video signal andthe first solid-pictorial video signal, a right-pictorial video signalis generated from the front video signal and the second solid-pictorialvideo signal, and the left-pictorial video signal and theright-pictorial video signal are supplied to a monitor simultaneouslythereby to project a solid picture.

A video signal transmission switching apparatus according to the presentinvention is constructed such that it is supplied with at least firstand second solid-pictorial video signals, and the first and secondsolid-pictorial video signals are supplied to a special effectgenerating circuit from which a video signal for a special effect isgenerated.

In the present invention, a solid picture using three video cameras isgenerated. In this case, the central video camera is used as a videocamera for imaging or photographing the front of an object, and a mainimage or picture is generated from a video signal obtained therefrom.Therefore, a television camera or the like provided with variousfunctions, which is normally used within a station, for example, is usedas this video camera.

The left and right video cameras are placed on both sides of the frontvideo camera in close proximity thereto. Simplified video cameras areused as the left and right video cameras. Further, cameras with no zoomfunction are utilized as the left and right video cameras. Video signalsobtained from the left and right video cameras are used as signals forforming a solid image or picture. In the present example, only solidinformation with respect to the main picture is transmitted as a videosignal to reduce the amount of transmission. Since a motion-compensatedDCT encode process using the front video signal as a reference pictureis performed to extract only the video signal having the solidinformation from the left and right video signals.

The left and right video signals having the solid information withrespect to the main picture are combined with the front video signalthereby to result in a solid-pictorial video signal. The combined videosignal is used upon both projections of the plane picture and the solidpicture. The combined video signal is transmitted as a transport streamsignal (digital data).

A received solid-pictorial video signal is separated into the frontvideo signal and the left and right video signals and then restored tothe original signal form. The left video signal reproduced from thefront video signal is used as a left-pictorial video signal, whereas theright video signal reproduced from the front video signal is used as aright-pictorial video signal. These left-pictorial video signal andright-pictorial video signal are supplied to a solid monitor (e.g.,goggle-type monitor means or the like) on which a solid picture isprojected.

The video signal transmitting apparatus is equipped with a transmissionswitching unit for providing special effects and implements a specialeffect process between solid pictures. Since, in this case, respectiveinformation about at least left and right video signals are compressedusing a compression coding process such as MPEG or the like, therespective compressed information are combined into one as they are orselected upon execution of two-screen synthesis or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary systematic diagram showing one embodiment of asolid-pictorial video signal generating apparatus according to thepresent invention;

FIGS. 2A through 2C are respectively diagrams for describing theoperation of the solid-pictorial video signal generating apparatus shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a systematic diagram illustrating one example of the peripheryof an encoder unit;

FIG. 4 is a systematic diagram depicting one example of amotion-compensated DCT encoder part;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between I/P/B pictures;

FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing one example of scanning;

FIG. 7 is a systematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of asolid-pictorial video signal transmitting apparatus according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a systematic diagram of a partial decoder employed in a videosignal transmission switching apparatus according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a systematic diagram of a partial encoder employed in thevideo signal transmission switching apparatus according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a solid screen;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between video signalsat switching between two screens;

FIG. 12 is a diagram depicting the relationship between video signals atwipe switching;

FIG. 13 is a systematic diagram showing another example of an encoderunit;

FIG. 14 is a systematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of asolid-pictorial video signal receiving apparatus according to thepresent invention; and

FIG. 15 is a systematic diagram of a conventional solid-pictorial videosignal generating apparatus.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

One embodiments of a solid-pictorial video signal generating apparatusand the like according to the present invention will continuously bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of one embodiment of a solid-pictorialvideo signal generating apparatus 10 according to the present invention.In the present invention, three video cameras 18M, 18L and 18R are usedto image the same object 12. Solid-pictorial video signals used forsignal transmission are generated from video signals (front video signaland left and right video signals) obtained from the video cameras.

In such a case, the central video camera 18M is used as a video camerafor photographing the front of the object 12. A main picture or image(plane picture) is generated from a video signal SM (see an originalpicture or image in FIG. 2A) obtained from the video camera. Therefore,a television camera or the like equipped with such various functions asnormally used within a station, for example, can be used as the videocamera 18M. A news-gathering video camera may be used as the videocamera 18M.

A pair of left and right video cameras 18L and 18R are placed on bothsides of the front video camera 18M in close proximity to the videocamera 18M. The left and right video cameras 18L and 18R are spaceduniformly and fixed at the same angle respectively. In the presentembodiment, the left and right video cameras 18L and 18R are also placedon a base (not shown) on which the front video camera 18M is mounted.

The left and right video cameras 18L and 18R make use of simplifiedvideo cameras and are equivalent to cameras with no zoom functions orthe like. This is because when video cameras identical to the frontvideo camera 18M are used, problems such as processing for synchronismbetween the video cameras, the match between camera characteristics,etc. as in the prior art must be solved.

Now, images or pictures (indicated by SL and SR for their convenience)of left and right video signals SL and SR imaged by the left and rightvideo cameras 18L and 18R coincide with the front picture SM in verticalsize of the object 12 where the three cameras are identical to eachother in magnification, but do not coincide with it in horizontal sizethereof as shown in FIG. 2A.

The front video signal SM and left and right video signals SL and SRobtained from the three video cameras 18 are supplied to a video signalgenerating part 20, and then they are converted into signal formsuitable for signal transmission. The video signal generating part 20 isprovided with encoder units 20M, 20L and 20R and performs an image sizeprocess, a compression process, etc.

The left and right video signals SL and SR having image sizes shown inFIG. 2A are obtained from the left and right video cameras 18L and 18R.The encoder units 20L and 20R perform a processing such that the leftand right pictures coincide in vertical direction with the front picture(the horizontal directions thereof do not coincide with each other),i.e., they process, as pre-treatment, the vertical sizes of the left andright pictures so as to coincide with that of the front picture.

Thereafter, information indicative of solid portions of the left andright pictures is extracted using the front picture. This is becausesolid information about a left side 12L of the object 12 shown in FIG. 1is contained in the left picture (as diagonally shaded in FIG. 2B) andsolid information about a right side 12R of the object 12 is containedin the right picture (as diagonally shaded in FIG. 2B). Since commonimage information with respect to the object 12 is omitted wherepossible upon sending (transmitting) the video signals for the solidpicture, the difference between the left and right pictures and thefront picture as a reference image or picture is extracted(see FIG. 2C)and information about the extracted difference is subjected tocompression processing or the like and superimposed on the frontpicture, after which the result of superimposition is transmitted.

FIG. 3 shows specific examples of these encoder units 20M, 20L and 20R.Pre-processing circuits 50L and 50R make image-size adjustments to theleft and right video signals SL and SR. In the present examples, apre-processed output of the right video signal SR is compared with thefront video signal SM as the reference by a comparison circuit 52R. Onlya low-frequency component is extracted from its compared output by aspatial low-pass filter 54R. Further, the extracted low-frequencycomponent is integrated by an integrating circuit 56R from which theso-integrated output is supplied commonly to the enlargement/reductioncircuits 50R and 50L serving as pre-processing in the present examples.

Thus, a feedback loop is formed so that the image sizes of the left andright video signals SL and SR coincide with the image size of the frontvideo signal SM. While the enlargement/reduction circuits 50L and 50Rare commonly controlled by the integrated output in the presentexamples, the left video signal and the right video signal may becontrolled by different feedback loops as shown in FIG. 13 by way ofexample.

In this case, the feedback loop with respect to theenlargement/reduction circuit 50L is also constructed in a mannersimilar to that with respect to the enlargement/reduction circuit 50R.Therefore, an encoder unit has a spatial low-pass filter 54L and anintegrating circuit 56L starting with a comparison circuit 52L formaking a comparison between a front video signal and a right videosignal. The encoder unit constructed as shown in FIG. 13 rather thanconstructed as shown in FIG. 3 is high in control accuracy.

Now, the front video signal SM is supplied to an MPEG (Moving PictureExperts Group) encoder 24 constituting the encoder unit 20M in thepresent examples as shown in FIG. 3, wherein it is compressed andencoded. Since the MPEG encoder 24 can make use of the knownconfiguration, its detailed description will be omitted. When it is notcompressed and encoded, the present encoder 24 becomes unnecessary.

With respect to the left and right video signals SL and SR, thedifference between each of the left and right video signals SL and SRand the front video signal is compressed and encoded. Therefore, theleft and right encoder units 20L and 20R are respectively provided withmotion-compensated DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform) encoder parts 30L and30R. The front video signal SM is supplied to the motion-compensated(predicted code-processed) DCT encoder parts 30L and 30R as a referencepicture or image signal.

FIG. 4 shows specific examples of the motion-compensated DCT encoderparts 30L and 30R. Left and right video signals (left and rightpictures) and a front video signal (front picture) are supplied to aposition-shift prediction circuit 40 wherein shifts in the positions ofthe left and right pictures are predicted with the front picture as areference picture or image. Moving vectors corresponding to the resultof prediction are supplied to a reference image shift circuit 42 whereinthe reference picture is shifted according to the moving vectors.

The shifted reference picture is supplied to a motion-compensated DCTconverter 44 together with the moving vectors and the difference betweenthe reference picture and the left (right) picture is determined basedthe shifted reference picture. Further, the DCT converter 44 performs aDCT converting process on information about the difference and effects aprediction encoding process with motion compensation on it. That is, theDCT converting process and the prediction encoding process are effectedon the difference information shown in FIG. 2C.

FIG. 5 shows a specific example of prediction encoding. The presentexample corresponds to a processing example wherein a cycle M that an Ipicture (Intra-Picture) or a P picture (Predictive-Picture) appears on afront picture, is selected as M=3.

The front picture is subjected to a process including the I picture.After three frames, the P picture appears and a B picture(Bidirectionally Predictive-Picture) is generated using the I pictureand P picture with respect to a frame therebetween. With respect to theleft and right pictures in contrast to this, P and B pictures aregenerated as shown in the drawing by utilizing I, P and B pictures forthe front picture.

DCT coefficients outputted from the DCT encoder parts 30L and 30R arerespectively quantized by quantization circuits 32L and 32R using apredetermined value Q. While their quantized outputs are being scannedby scanning circuits 34L and 34R in zigzag patterns shown in FIG. 6.,they are subjected to a variable-length encoding process together withmoving vectors by variable-length coding circuits (VLC) 36L and 36Rprovided at subsequent stages. Thereafter, the so-processed outputs arerespectively converted into transport stream signals (digital data)defined under MPEG standards by transport stream converters 38L and 38R.

A front video signal (variable-length coded output) outputted from theMPEG encoder 24 is also subjected to a transport stream process by atransport stream converter 38M and then supplied to a multiplexingcircuit 22 wherein it is brought to one transport stream signal SO. Thisresults in a solid-pictorial video signal used for transmission.

FIG. 7 shows one embodiment of a device 60 for transmitting a pluralityof solid-pictorial video signals. The present embodiment is one whereintransmission switching between two-system video signals for solid imagesand transmission switching between output signals obtained by performinga special effect process on the two-system video signals for solidimages can be implemented.

In the same drawing, two solid-pictorial video signal generatingapparatuses 10A and 10B are provided. A front video signal SM and leftand right video signals SL and SR, imaged by the video cameras shown inFIG. 1, are respectively supplied to them from which solid-pictorialvideo signals SOa and SOb set to the above-described transmission form,are generated. These video signals SOa and SOb are supplied to atransmission switching unit 62.

These video signals SOa and SOb are supplied also to a special effectgenerating unit 70. Since the present embodiment permits the specialeffect process without performing a decoding process on data about thevideo signals SOa and SOb, partial decoders 72A and 72B are respectivelyprovided at a stage prior to a video switcher 74 wherein a switchingprocess for special effects is performed on partial decode outputs.

The special-effect output signals subjected to the switching process areencoded by a partial encoder 76 provided at subsequent stage thereoffrom which the encode-processed signals are outputted as asolid-pictorial video signal subjected to the special effect process.This is supplied to the transmission switching unit 62 wherein a processfor switching between the solid-pictorial video signals is performed,based on a command issued from a control panel (not shown) with acomputer built therein.

The above-described video switcher 74 is also controlled by thecomputer, thus it is controlled by special-effect processing signals(two-screen changeover switching signal, wipe signal, etc.) instructedby an operator.

FIG. 8 shows one embodiment of the partial decoders 72A and 72B. Asolid-pictorial video signal SOa or SOb represented in transport streamform is supplied to a separation circuit 80 so that it is restored totransport stream signals set every front and left and right videosignals.

The respective video signals placed in the transport stream state arerestored to states of variable-length codes by their correspondingstream inverse transformation circuits 82M, 82L and 82R. Thevariable-length codes are brought to quantized signals (digital data) byinverse variable-length coding circuits 84M, 84L and 84R. The quantizedsignals are scanned by mapping circuits (mappers) 86M, 86L and 86R inthe zigzag patterns shown in FIG. 6 so that left and right pictorialdata are respectively assigned to two-dimensional spatial regionstogether with front pictorial data, whereby front and left and rightpartial decode outputs are obtained. That is, a partial decode processis performed without performing a complete decode process. These partialdecode outputs are supplied to the video switcher 74 wherein they aresubjected to the special effect process.

The reason why even the left and right pictorial data are subjected tothe special effect process by the switcher 74 after having been mappedin addition to the front pictorial data in the way, is that it isnecessary to simultaneously effect the special effect process not onlyto the front pictorial data but also to the left and right pictorialdata accompanied thereby, and in order to realize the above, it isnecessary to process picture information after it has been temporarilyrestored to a two-dimensional space.

Of course, the special effect process may be performed after thesecompressed pictorial data are subjected to inverse DCT transformation soas to be restored (decoded) to the original pictorial data. However, ifdone so, then a pictorial-data compression coding/expansion decodingprocess must be performed before and after the special effect process,so that image quality is degraded. It is thus hard to say it asadvisable processing means well.

The partial decode outputs subjected to the special effect process andplaced in a mixed state of two solid pictures are restored to theoriginal transport stream signals by the partial encoder 76 shown inFIG. 9. Therefore, the respective partial decode outputs are scanned byscanners 88M, 88L and 88R as shown in FIG. 6, followed by supply tovariable-length coding circuits 90M, 90L and 90R, so that they aresubjected to a variable-length coding process. Thereafter, they areconverted to transport stream signals for MPEG by transport streamtransformation circuits 92M, 92L and 92R respectively. The convertedtransport stream signals are multiplexed by a multiplexing circuit 94,so that a solid-pictorial video signal with the special effect processis obtained. This solid-pictorial video signal is a signal identical tothe video signals SOa and SOb produced from the solid-pictorial videosignal generating apparatuses 10A and 10B.

Examples illustrative of the special effect process will be describedcontinuously with reference to FIG. 10 and subsequent drawings. FIG. 10shows an example in which solid pictures are switched in the center ofthe screen. The drawing shows a case where the solid pictures areswitched so that a mixing ratio may be linearly varied within a width WPof a switching point p as shown in FIG. 11. It can be said that sincethe solid picture SOa is projected on the left side (=Wa) of the screenand the solid picture SOb is projected on the right side (=Wb) of thescreen as shown in FIG. 10, right pictorial data of the solid pictureSOa at the switching point p is data lower in importance than leftpictorial data. It can be said that left pictorial data at the switchingpoint p, of the solid picture SOb on the right side in contrast this isdata low in importance. Therefore, data is truncated because the amountof data corresponding to one line is held constant. Whether the left andright pictorial data should be used up to within the width WP of theswitching point p, varies according to the position of a fit screen.

Since left and right pictorial data about a new solid picture isimportant rather than the left and right pictorial data about theoriginal solid picture when the solid picture is wipe-processed, theleft and right pictorial data about the new solid picture are processedso as to be occupied within a width WP of a switching point p in such acase as shown in FIG. 12. FIG. 12 shows the relationship betweenpictorial data at the time that a new solid picture SOb is wiped toabout ⅓ of the screen.

A solid-pictorial video signal transmitted in transport stream form isreceived by a receiving device 100 shown in FIG. 14. First of all, thesolid-pictorial video signal is separated from a multiplexed transportstream signal respectively into a front video signal and left and rightvideo signals by a separation circuit 102. Of the separated transportstream signals, the transport stream signal corresponding to the frontvideo signal is restored to the original variable-length code by adecoder 104M.

The variable-length code is supplied to an MPEG decoder 108 through aswitch 106. When the front video signal is compressed and encoded byMPEG or the like, the switch 106 is positioned to an illustratedswitched state, so that the variable-length code is inversely convertedto the original video signal SM. When it is not compressed and encoded,the switch 106 is changed to the other switched state, so that decodeprocessing is not performed.

Transport stream data about the left and right video signals are firstrestored to the original variable-length codes by decoders 104L and104R, so that they in turn are supplied to decoders 110L and 110R forthe variable-length codes wherein they are restored to quantizedsignals. Thereafter, the quantized signals are multiplied by aquantization value Q by dequantization circuits 112L and 112Rrespectively, so that they are restored to DCT coefficients. The DCTcoefficients are respectively supplied to motion-compensated(prediction-decoded) DCT decoder units 114L and 114R.

The DCT decoder units 114L and 114R are respectively comprised ofmotion-compensated DCT decoders 116L and 116R and image shifters 118Land 118R. First, moving vectors extracted by the DCT decoders 116L and116R are respectively supplied to the image shifters 118L and 118Rwherein the front video signal (front picture) is shifted according tothe moving vectors. As a result, pseudo left and right images orpictures are obtained. The pseudo left and right pictures arerespectively returned to the DCT decoders 116L and 116R, so that theyare restored to the left and right pictures (left and right videosignals SL and SR) shown in FIG. 2B using information about thedifference between the left and right pictures.

The restored front video signal is used when a two-dimensional image isprojected. That is, it is supplied to an ordinary monitor as a videosignal (picture signal). When it is desired to project the solidpicture, the left and right video signals SL and SR are supplied to aCRT monitor (stereoscopic monitor) capable of projecting the solidpicture or a stereoscopic monitor using a liquid crystal display deviceor the like.

A commercially-available goggle-type display device (e.g., Glasstron(trade name)) or the like can be utilized as the stereoscopic monitor.Left and right video signals are supplied to this display device. Thisdisplay device is equivalent to the one in which liquid crystal displaydevices are respectively attached to spectacle lenses.

In the present invention as has been described above, thesolid-pictorial video signals are generated by using the three videocameras.

According to this, the present invention has a feature that sincesimplified video cameras can be utilized as the video cameras placed onboth sides of the front video camera, it is unnecessary to makeadjustments for coincidences of camera characteristics of the threevideo cameras and since the simplified video cameras can be used, anapparatus can be reduced in cost.

In the present invention as well, when each solid-pictorial video signalis transmitted, only information about the difference between each of atleast left and right video signals and a front video signal is encodedunder compression and transmitted.

According to this, the present invention has a feature that the amountof total data of the solid-pictorial video signals can be reduced. Sincethe left and right video signals can be restored from the front videosignal even if the amount of the data is reduced, degradation in thepicture quality and the like does not occur.

Further, in the present invention, left and right video signals used asfor a solid picture are restored from a front video signal received as asolid-pictorial video signal.

According to this, since the solid-pictorial information can be restoredapproximately accurately, the solid picture good in quality can beenjoyed. Since the front video signal is contained in thesolid-pictorial video signal, the solid picture as well as a planepicture can be also enjoyed. Since, in this case, the plane picture isbased on a video signal outputted from a video camera front to anobject, a natural image can be enjoyed.

Moreover, in the present invention, when switching is done between aplurality of solid pictures by using a special effect process,compressed and encoded pictorial data are processed without decoding theoriginal pictorial data.

According to this, the present invention has a feature that since acompression coding/expansion decoding process may not be repeated beforeand after a video switcher, for example, a solid special effect picturewith less degradation in the image quality can be enjoyed.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As has been described above, the solid-pictorial video signal generatingapparatus according to the present invention and the video transmittingsystem using this video signal generating apparatus can be applied to asolid video generating apparatus employed in video studios intended forhome and business (broadcast station or the like) and a system fortransmitting solid video signals produced therefrom.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for receiving a solid-pictorialvideo signal comprised of a front video signal and left portion andright portion solid-pictorial video signals each having a differencebetween left and right video signals and the front video signal,respectively, wherein, a left-pictorial video signal is generated fromthe front video signal and the left portion solid-pictorial videosignal; a right-pictorial video signal is generated from the front videosignal and the right portion solid-pictorial video signal; theleft-pictorial video signal and the right-pictorial video signal aresupplied to a monitor simultaneously thereby to project a solid picture;and said apparatus including means for extracting the front video signalfrom the received solid-pictorial video signal and outputting theextracted front video signal to display a two dimensional picture basedon the front video signal alone.
 2. The solid-pictorial video signalreceiving apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a first decoderunit supplied with the front video signal and second and third decoderssupplied with the left portion and right portion solid-pictorial videosignals, wherein said second and third decoder units have a DCT decoderand a picture shifter respectively; wherein said picture shifter issupplied with predicted vectors and a front video signal outputted fromsaid first decoder unit and shifts the front video signal using thepredicted vectors thereby to set the same as part of left and rightvideo signals, and wherein said left and right video signals and thesolid-pictorial video signal corresponding to the difference are addedtogether thereby to obtain video signals for left and right pictures. 3.The solid-pictorial video signal receiving apparatus according to claim2, wherein signals outputted from a pair of simplified video camerasplaced on both sides of a front video camera interposed therebetween areutilized as the left and right video signals.
 4. A method for generatingboth two dimensional and solid-pictorial picture signals, comprising thesteps of: extracting a front video signal, a left portionsolid-pictorial video signal and a right portion solid-pictorial videosignal from a received input video signal; generating a left-pictorialvideo signal from the front video signal and the left portionsolid-pictorial video signal; generating a right-pictorial video signalfrom the front video signal and the right portion solid-pictorial videosignal; outputting the left-pictorial and right-pictorial video signalsto a monitor simultaneously to thereby project a solid picture; andproviding the extracted front video signal as an output to enable a twodimensional picture to be displayed based on the front video signalalone.
 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the received inputvideo signal is a compression encoded video signal, and said methodfurther comprising: extracting moving vectors from each of the leftportion and right portion video signals by means of left and rightdiscrete cosine transform (DCT) encoders, respectively; shifting thefront video signal according to the extracted moving vectors, andobtaining pseudo left and pseudo right pictures; returning the pseudoleft and pseudo right pictures to the respective left and right DCTencoders to generate said left-pictorial and right-pictorial videosignals.